As the night stretched on, Zero sat alone in his dimly lit dormitory, the remnants of his conversation with his group lingering in his mind. His fingers traced invisible patterns in the air as he pondered the nature of Forbidden Knowledge. It was an anomaly within the known power system, something neither martial nor arcane, yet capable of surpassing both. The mere concept of it was taboo, shrouded in secrecy by those who feared its potential.
Zero clenched his fist, feeling the faint pulse of something unfamiliar coursing through him. What was it? A force that transcended limitations? A power meant to rewrite the rules? He needed answers, and he needed them soon.
He reached into his belongings, pulling out an old tome he had swiped from the academy's restricted archives. The pages were filled with ancient symbols, unreadable to most. But Zero wasn't most people. As his Omniscient Mind activated, the characters shifted, forming words his brain could process.
"To walk the path of the Unseen is to bear the weight of knowledge meant to be erased. But knowledge, once known, can never be forgotten."
The words resonated within him, stirring something deep. He turned the page, eager to unearth what the rulers had buried. He would learn. He would master it.
The morning sun broke through his window, yet sleep had not graced him. He had spent the entire night poring over the tome, testing theories, and experimenting with his newfound power. But now, it was time for the faction selection.
Zero entered the grand hall, where hundreds of students had gathered. Representatives from various factions stood on an elevated platform, one by one delivering their recruitment speeches.
"The Iron Fangs welcome only the strong! If you seek battle and glory, join us!"
"The Silent Crescent accepts those who move unseen. We are the whisper in the wind, the blade in the dark."
Each faction had its own allure, promising power, knowledge, or prestige. And yet, none of them interested Zero. These were existing structures, bound by unspoken rules and chains of control. He didn't need a faction. He needed an army.
But he couldn't form one—not officially, at least. That privilege was reserved for second-years and above.
Then he realized—who said he needed to create a faction in the open? What if he could build one within the shadows, a network that infiltrated and spread its influence inside the very factions meant to control them?
The idea was dangerous, audacious, and, above all, thrilling.
He scanned the crowd, his mind already calculating. If he played his cards right, he wouldn't need to recruit openly. He would gather the disillusioned, the ambitious, those who sought something greater than what was being offered. He would plant his roots where no one could see.
As the speeches continued, Zero leaned back in his seat.
As the faction selection process concluded, Zero wasted no time. While others celebrated their choices and newfound allegiances, he observed from the shadows, identifying those who carried potential beyond what the factions themselves recognized. His goal wasn't to create a faction just yet—but to plant the seeds of influence where no one would suspect.The Art of Recruitment
Zero moved through the academy with precision, approaching select students in hushed conversations, each encounter tailored to the individual's desires, fears, or ambitions.
Kai Relm, a combat prodigy rejected from elite factions due to his unorthodox fighting style, found Zero speaking to him as if they were old friends. "You don't need a faction that wants to change you," Zero had said. "You need one that values what you already are."
Selene Ward, a strategist overshadowed by those with brute strength, listened as Zero pointed out her hidden strengths. "Battles aren't won by strength alone. The right mind can topple an army."
Gareth Fen, a reluctant healer forced into passive roles, was met with Zero's challenge: "What if I told you that healing could be used to control life… and death?"
Each conversation left its mark, and Zero knew he had planted ideas that would grow in their minds. The more factions dismissed these individuals, the more they would naturally gravitate towards him.
A Conversation with Lyra
Lunch arrived, and as expected, Lyra approached him again. This time, she sat down across from him unprompted, tray in hand. "I don't get you," she said bluntly.
Zero smirked. "I get that a lot."
"You dodge questions, act clueless, and yet… people follow you." Her piercing gaze narrowed. "What are you, really?"
Zero leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "This again? I could ask the same about you."
A flicker of amusement crossed Lyra's face. "You're the first to ask."
Zero took a bite of his food, studying her. "Your eyes. They see more than what's in front of you, don't they?"
Lyra went still for half a second—so brief most wouldn't notice, but Zero did. That reaction confirmed it: she wasn't ordinary.
"You don't need to answer now," he said casually. "I just wanted to know if I was right."
Lyra watched him for a moment longer before returning to her food. "You're dangerous."
Zero only smiled. "So are you."
Afternoon Classes – Faction Day Announcement
After lunch, the academy halls buzzed with renewed energy as students settled into afternoon classes. It wasn't long before an instructor stood before them with an announcement.
"Now that factions have been chosen, we will begin Faction Day Activities, held once a week. These will test not only your individual skills but your ability to work within your faction. Be prepared—next week will be your first challenge."
A murmur rippled through the students. Some were excited, others nervous. Zero? He was already thinking ahead. If faction days were meant to test alliances, they would also be the perfect stage for manipulation.
After classes, Zero went back to his dorm.
Zero sat in his dorm room, the dim light of a single candle casting flickering shadows on the walls. The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation as he waited for his team to report back. He had given them clear missions, each tailored to their unique strengths, and now it was time to assess what they had discovered.One by one, they arrived. Veyna Crowe was the first to step in, her expression calm but her sharp eyes filled with the excitement of discovery. "I looked deeper into Cecil Vance's history," she began, placing a set of aged documents on the table. "There are conflicting accounts of his death. Officially, he perished over a century ago, but some texts suggest he disappeared rather than died. There are even rumors that he may have left behind something—perhaps knowledge that only a Sageborn could decipher. If that's true, then the letter you received might not be a hoax."
Zero nodded, processing the implications. If Cecil Vance had left behind something important, then someone, or something, might still be guarding it.
Next was Reina Vaughn. She carried herself with an air of quiet confidence, her piercing gaze unreadable. "I investigated the power struggles within the academy factions," she stated. "The strongest factions have clear hierarchies, but there are tensions brewing beneath the surface. Some members are dissatisfied, others feel restrained by their leaders. I've identified several individuals who might be swayed to our cause. Give me the word, and I'll start planting seeds of doubt within their minds."
"Good," Zero said with a small smirk. "Work subtly, make them question their allegiances, but don't push too hard just yet. We need them to come to us naturally."
Luther stepped forward next, arms crossed over his broad chest. "I checked out the seniors you tangled with," he reported. "They're nothing special, just arrogant brutes who thrive on intimidation. But there's something odd about how quickly they backed down once I intervened. It's like they were testing you more than trying to beat you down. I wouldn't be surprised if they were acting under someone's orders."
Zero narrowed his eyes. "That means someone is watching us more closely than we thought. Keep an eye on them, see if they make any strange moves."
Finally, Nia spoke up. She had been quiet the entire time, her expression thoughtful. "I followed the paper trail of faction funding," she said. "Most of the money flowing through the academy is standard, but there's an unaccounted-for fund that keeps getting funneled into private research. Whatever it is, it's big enough that someone doesn't want it traced. I have a feeling this connects to the rulers somehow."
Zero tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought. "We're uncovering too many threads for this to be a coincidence. We need to move carefully. Keep observing, keep gathering intel. But don't make yourselves targets."
His group nodded in unison, understanding the gravity of their tasks. They were not just students anymore; they were conspirators in something much larger than themselves. And Zero intended to see it through to the end.
"Dismissed," he finally said. "We'll regroup soon."
As they left, Zero leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. The pieces were falling into place.